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(No Model.)

G. F. 81; W. J. WALTERS.

CLASP.

No. 322,026. Patented July 14, 1885.

T h I" F I I I 72 1. rp. 9 N

llllwnll ATTORNEYS.

rhnmulw m mr. Wnshinglon n c Nv PETE" UNITED STATES CHARLES F. WALTERS AND XVILLIAM J. XVALTERS, OF PROSPEGT, N. Y

PATENT OFFICE.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,026, dated July 14-, 1885.

Application filed November 4, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES F. WALTERs and VVILLIAM J. WALTERs, both residing at Prospect, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Clasp, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of our invention is to provide a new and improved clasp for holdingstockings, shirt-sleeves, and garments or parts of garments.

The invention consists in a clasp formed of two fiat jaws made integral with a cross-piece uniting them, combined with a latch pivoted on one jaw and provided with a curved slot through which a pin passes from the other aw.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure'l is a face view of our improved clasp, the same being closed. Fig. 2 is asimilar View, the same being opened. Fig. 8 is an edge view of the clasp. Fig. 4 is a face view of the clasp, the latch being removed.

The clasp is formed of apiece of spring sheet metal punched out or otherwise shaped to form two fiat jaws, A, theinner edges of which face each other, the said jaws being united by a cross-piece, B, made integral or cut from the same piece with the jaws, and the stems 0, formed on theinnerends of the jaws and forming the connection between the jaws and the cross-piece. The inner edges of the jaws are toothed or otherwise roughened, and the outer edges are rounded.

On one jaw A a latch-lever, D, is pivoted, which is provided with a curved slot, E, through which a pin, F, on the other jaw passes. The latchlever D is provided on its inner end with a button or knob, G, to facilitate shifting the latch. When the latch-lever D is in such a position that the pin F is at the inner end of the slot E, the jaws A are pressed together and grasp and hold the article H placed between them. The article cannot be withdrawn, as the teeth on the inner edges of the jaws are pressed into it.

To open the jaws, the upper end of the latch U D is swung to that side of the clasp opposite the one at which it is when the clasp is closed, whereby the lower end of the slot Eis brought to the pin F and the jaws are separated.

The slot E is provided in its inner end with a notch, E, into which the pin Fpasses when the jaws are closed, thuspreventing accidental disengagement of the latch and consequent opening or separating of the jaws.

The clasp must be made of spring material, to permit the jaws to move toward or from each other without breaking at the ends of the part B. The clasp has its cross-piece B secured to an elastic or other band or strap, J.

The clasp is adapted for holding and supporting stockings, sleeves,and all kinds of garments, tags, sheets, &c.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a clasp, the combination, with two united jaws, substantially as described, the edges of which face each other, of alatch-lever for moving the jaws toward or from each other, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a clasp, the combination, with two united jaws the edges of which face each other, of a latch pivoted on one jaw and provided with a slot, and of a pin projecting from the other through the slot, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In a clasp, the combination, with two jaws, A, stems O, and cross-piece B, madeint'egral, of the 1atch-lever D, pivoted on one jaw and provided with a curved slot, and of a pin projecting from the other jaw into the slot, substantially as herein shown and described.

CHARLES F. \VALTERS. WILLIAM J. WALTERS. Witnesses:

"J. N. VVALTERs,

G-ERTIE A. LINDSAY. 

